How to Transfer Files Between Two Computers on the Same Wi-Fi
The simplest cross-platform way to move files between laptops without a USB stick, NAS, or cloud account.
The shortest path
Same Wi-Fi, both laptops, both open a browser tab to interdrop.com. Drag the file from the desktop onto the page, click the other laptop, accept. Done. Works between any combination of Mac, Windows, Linux, and ChromeOS.
Step-by-step
Open InterDrop on the MacBook
In any modern browser, go to interdrop.com. The page picks up a temporary name and avatar for the device.
How fast is “fast”?
On a 5 GHz home Wi-Fi network with both laptops in the same room, you’ll see between 80 and 200 Mb/s — basically your network’s ceiling. A 1 GB file finishes in under a minute. On gigabit Ethernet, it’s faster than most USB sticks.
Versus USB sticks, NAS, and Drive
- vs USB stick. Faster than copy-out-copy-in, and no risk of leaving the stick somewhere.
- vs NAS. No share-mounting, no SMB tax, no password.
- vs Google Drive / Dropbox. No upload waiting room, no link to revoke, no quota.
- vs email. No 25 MB cap. You can send a 4 GB video.
Two devices on the same Wi-Fi can talk to each other directly. We just got used to going around the world to do it.
Frequently asked
Does Windows Defender block this?
Can I do this between Linux and macOS?
Can I send a whole folder?
Try peer-to-peer for yourself.
Open InterDrop on this device, open it on the device you want to send to, and drop a file. No sign-up. No install.
Open InterDrop